Mapes vs. Jeremy Round Three: The Home Run Derby Draft
Alright. This is it, people. My long-awaited redemption in the Mapes vs. Jeremy challenge. I may have lost the jersey draft war. I may have lost the bobble war. But today, we take the voting out of YOUR hands. Just as the All-Star Game should.
Anyway, we will draft four players each out of the eight home run hitters who elected to participate in the 2012 State Farm Home Run Derby. For the uninformed, that means choosing from Robinson Cano, Jose Bautista, Prince Fielder and Mark Trumbo (A.L.), as well as Matt Kemp, Carlos Gonzalez, Carlos Beltran and Giancarlo Stanton, Andrew McCutchen (N.L.).
This is how the point system works – we are relying solely on moon shots generated from these swaggering men’s powerful swings. In the 1st round, one point will be awarded per home run. In the 2nd round, two points…3rd round, three points. Plus, a saucy little five-point bonus for drafting the winner.
For the sake of Babe Ruth, let’s get this thing started:
1st Pick: Prince Fielder, Tigers (Team Jeremy)
It’s hard to go against my boy Matt Kemp, and even harder to not piss off Mapes and take his boyfriend, Stanton. But my theory with the Home Run Derby is that the big boys will go absolutely crazy in the 1st round. And there isn’t much more power packed into any body in baseball than that of the Tigers’ Prince Fielder. I’m going to enjoy watching him launch balls out of Kaufman Stadium all night, and happily mark down my points to go with it. Prince has already won a Derby, so he knows what it takes. Besides, is there any cooler home run swing in the game?
2nd Pick: Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins, Andrew McCutchen, Pirates (Team Mapes)
What is up all of these “may haves” in the intro? You DID lose the jersey draft war. You DID lose the bobble battle. You WILL lose the Home Run Derby slugfest. You alluded to it in your choice of Fielder, so I will not disappoint the 3U3D fan base. You weren’t on the podcast this week, so you didn’t hear that I was picking my “boyfriend” Stanton to win. I’ve seen him hit batting practice and it’s a thing of beauty. He’s young and chomping at the bit to make a name for himself on the national stage. The outfield Kauffman waterfalls are no big deal to Stanton. He’s used to water being sprayed when he homers because he sets off the home run sculpture in Miami all the time. He has the best raw power of any participant, plus who else this season has broken a scoreboard on a grand slam? No one. I get all excited just watching this. (Editor’s Note: Stanton may be unable to participate with a sore knee, if he doesn’t then Mapes will get his replacement.)
Well looks like I’m going to end up with Pirates Andrew McCutchen instead. He did have two home runs today, so looks like he is ready to go. He also could be the N.L. MVP right now. Was kind of hoping this would end up being Bryce Harper though.
3rd Pick: Robinson Cano, Yankees (Team Mapes)
You took Fielder who won the Home Run Derby in 2009, so I’ll grab the other player that has a Derby championship trophy on his mantle. Cano’s swing is just absolutely beautiful and works in any ballpark. Plus, you have to love the story of his father, Jose, pitching to him. Worked once, don’t see why it can’t work again. Cano is a captain for a reason. He’s been on an absolute tear as of late with nine home runs since June 17th. Did I mention Cano crushed your 1st pick Prince Fielder 20-9 in two rounds last year? Take a look. Be careful, this video is long because he hit so many bombs last year.
4th Pick: Jose Bautista, Blue Jays (Team Jeremy)
The raw power in this draft is unbelievable. I had a heck of a time trying to choose someone in this spot, considering all parties involved are mashers of epic proportions. In the end, I went with Joey Bats, also known as the Major League Baseball home run leader. Again. He’s on pace to approach 55 dingers and already had nearly 100 round trippers in 2010-2011 combined. Bautista said on MLB Network recently that he doesn’t try to hit home runs, he just tries to hit it hard somewhere. Well, when opposing pitchers make a mistake, that hard-hit ball usually lands in the upper deck. Imagine how many times that will happen in an event where the pitcher is purposely making a mistake on every single throw. Boomtown!
5th Pick: Mark Trumbo, Angels (Team Mapes)
Bautista doesn’t try to hit home runs? That’s not good in a competition where you’re trying to hit home runs. Which was probably why Joey Bats was eliminated in the 1st round last year with a paltry four homers. I’m going to the the master of the Trumbomb. Our friend Ricardo Marquez campaigned for him hard from the MLB Fan Cave and will be on the field shagging fly balls. I hope ESPN catches every reaction he makes when Trumbo puts one out. Trumbo has an effortless, uppercut swing that will play well in the Derby. I think I’ve picked the two strongest players in the competiton, they won’t wear down easily. Based on our picks, looks like we think Team Cano is going to win the overall title.
6th Pick: Carlos Beltran, Cardinals (Team Jeremy)
It was a toss-up here for me between the two Carloses (Carli?). Both have sweet swings, but I’ll take the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols replacement. If the powers that be allow him to, Beltran could maybe take hacks from both sides of the plate, as he’s got a solid power stroke from either side. Don’t let the fact that he’s a little smaller than some of these other guys fool you. I’ve seen him put one out into Big Mac Land at Busch Stadium from the right side and into the upper deck from the left side. Did I mention Beltran started his career in Kansas City, so he’ll be playing in front of an assumedly friendly crowd? He could very well be the fan favorite coming into this, and I’m thrilled to have him on team Jeremy.
7th Pick: Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies (Team Mapes)
You fell right in to my trap. I didn’t want to root for Beltran, plus I thought you’d might be a sucker for your boy Matt Kemp. I’m a little worried that his power might dip a little bit from Coors Field to Kauffman Stadium, but I still think it’s a better risk than the player who has had five at-bats since May 13th. Kemp when healthy last season only had two home runs in the Derby, good enough for last place. Give me the Derby devil I don’t know over the Derby devil I do. Consider letting you have your favorite player a gift for beating you in our first two match-ups.
8th Pick: Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers (Team Jeremy)
And what a sweet trap it is! You realize you just let me take THE one and only Beast Mode with the very last pick in this draft? Yes, Kemp has only hit 12 homers this year, but remember he’s had about 15 at bats. Okay, that’s a slight exaggeration. But Kemp has been out for a solid chunk of the first half, and all he wants to do is be good at baseball-related activities again. I don’t think he’ll win it, but he’ll definitely put up more than TWO bombs this year. The 2012 version of Matt Kemp is even better, when healthy, than last year’s 39-homer, version. This might be the greatest Mr. Irrelevant choice in drafting history if he goes deep into the contest.
I’ll tell you right now Jeremy. CarGo will have more home runs than Matt Kemp. Irrelevant sounds about right for that pick.
Who do you think will win the Home Run Derby battle? Who wins the entire Home Run Derby? Let us know!
-Jeremy Dorn (@JamblinMan) & Bryan Mapes (@IAmMapes)
Three Up, Three Down 
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